Ohio News Photographers Association

Bickel, ThisWeek photo staff earn top honors

ThisWeek Community News Chief Photographer Joshua A. Bickel won top honors from the Ohio News Photographers Association during its annual convention April 12 at Kent State University.

Bickel was named the Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year and the News Photographer of the Year in the small-market division.

Because there is not a category for weekly newspapers, ThisWeek competes in the small-market division for daily newspapers with a circulation of less than 60,000.

Bickel, who joined ThisWeek in 2012, is a graduate of the University of Missouri.

He also won first place in the best feature, best pictorial and best sports picture story categories.

In addition, ThisWeek's photography department was named Staff of the Year in the under-60,000 circulation category. Joining Bickel on the staff are Lorrie Cecil, John Hulkenberg, Chris Parker and Ryan M.L. Young.